Needle-loop separator for sewing machines



Mar. 27, 1923.

r G. S. GATCHELL.

NEEDLE LOOP SEPARATOR FOR SEWING MACHINES.

3. SHEETS-*SHEET Le FILED FEB. 3 1920.

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3 SHEETS-SHILET 2 Mar. 27, 1923.

G. S. GATCHELL. NEEDLE LOOP SEPARATOR FOR SEWING MACHINES.

FILED FEB. 3, 1920- .NNI wnv NN. m ,m n I .WI N mw.. Q NN TMI I Mm. III Nk W\ I\\5M .v www QN NN .d I I W0 nu@ wv uw u. 1 Nw WW MN NN. QN Q u N uw uw @VENTO l BY f,

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Mar. y27, 1923. 1,449,508. G. S. GATCHELL.

NEEDLE LooP sEPANAToR EON SEWING MACHINES.

FILED FEB. 3,1920. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- V re r WITNESSES:

BY V

/ A TORNEY Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

Arr-s Parent orifice.

GEORGE s. GATCHELL, oF ROsELL-ETEARK, NEW JERSEY, essIGNOR To THE SINGER .MANUERCTU NEW JERSEY.

'RING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION 0F NEEDLE-'LOOP sEPARA'rOR FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Atpiiatiomedrebruaiy 3, 1920. serial No. stacca.

To all w 7mm it may] concern Be it knowii that L GEORGES. Garci-infin, a citizen ofthe UnitedStetesfresidingat RoselleiPark', in the' county4 ofl UnionA and State of New Jersey; have invented certain new anduseful Improvements inj Needle- Loop Separator's` for Sewing Maehines, Vof which'the "followingfis a specification,` reference being had therein to lthe`accinnpanying 10 drawings. l 4

This invention relates to needle-loop controllers for'seivin'g' machines `and has fora prin'iary objectto pro'vide'means applicable more particularly' to multiple-needle single- `lo'o'per sewingv machines for preventing the newly`for1ned needle-loops from twisting around sidewise as they arethrown out by the need-les and areaboii't toibeseized by the advancing looper. Statedinanother way,

the invention'h'as for an object to provide means for holding' thenewlyformed needleloops in spaced parallel planes transverse to the path Ofthe'advancing looper, so that the looper will enter'the needle-loops with certainty. l l, i

A further object ofthe invention is to provide means for overcoming'th'e tendency of the looper to dra-ga previously seized needle-loop intoy an' adjacent loop which is about', to vbe seized siich` `action causing the needle-loepsto be crossed onthe looper. i

1ny accordance with the 'present invention,

a loop-controlling:element inthe form of a multitoothed- 4combM is mounted .ony the feeddog of the*machine;-the`comb`being posi tioned in 'rearVY of-the Vneedles with its teeth projecting'toward the needles o r in a direction opposite tv the direction of feed.

The teeth'of thecombare'spaced apart a 40 distance r-:iial` te theA distance between adjacent needles` andl the` arrangementis such thatwhen ,the vfeed-dog moves forward ypreparatoryto rising into engagement lwith the` work,v the teeth of theicom'b are projected forwardly between t-hefneedles so that when the needles ris'ef'and throw out their loops, the teeth14 vact "guide the erpandi'ng loops and prevent thefirtwisting..sidewise out of the path" ofl the advanfeing. looper.

When the loper hes seized"l the needleloops and the feeddog.,executesfitsffeeding strektth-fesantitlfeoiflbarwithdrawn f'oiir their petitions tietv'vee'nh the' needle paths, in Order that the needle-loops shed from the looper during a later stage lof the stitch-forming cycle may be drawn upto the work withoutcatching on the comb. An auxiliary guard may be utilized to cover the teeth of the comb when the latter is in retracted position'.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 17is a side elevation illustrating the essential elements of a sewing machine embodying the invention, Figs. 2. 3 and i are details of the feed mechanismy of the-machine. Fig. 5 is a. plan view of the work-supporting arm and feed mechanism incorporated therein; the standard of the machine being shown in horizontal section. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sectional views on the lines 6 6 and-` 7-7, respectively, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail elevation of the main feed-dog showing the loop-controlling comb mounted thereon. F 9 is al bottom plan view of the throatplat-e. Fig. 10 is an end'elevation of the Work-suppo'rtingv arm showing' the needles and looper in front'elevation and the throatplate in transverse vertical section. Figi 1l is a plan view showing the loop-controlling comb in its relation tothe needles, looper and feed-dogs. Fig. 12l is a longitudinal section in the line of feed throughthe .throatplate and feed-dogs showing the comb in its forward or activeposition.` Fig. 13 `is a similarv view at the period of the cycle whenthe descending needles are entering the `looper-loop; the comb being in retracted or inactive position. Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the needles, looper and comb in the position shown in Figs. 10 and 12.

For the purposes of the present disclosure the invention is shown as embodied in the machine disclosed in my Patent No. 1,410,- 057, of March 21, 1922. `This machine is formed with a frame including the base 1, standard 2 and work-supporting arm 3 within which the feeding and looper-actuating mechanisms arehoused. The stitchforming mechanism is of thev well known multi-needle single-looper type and comprises the reciprocating needles 4 which cooperate with `the looper 5 mountedon the rockingiand sliding looper-shaft 6, They feeding lmechanism is jof the differential type and comprises falling and main feed-dogs 8 and 9, respectively. Although any suitable four-motion feed-actuating mechanism may be employed, I prefer, to use that disclosed in my said copending` application. Secured to the main-shaft 7 1s the feed-advancing eccentric 10 which is connected by the pitman 11 to the rockerarm 12 the split hub 13 of which is clamped to the cross-shaft 14 to which shaft is also clamped the split hubs of the main feedadvancing rocker-arm 15 and the auxiliary feed-advancing rocker-arm 16. The rockerarm 15 is formed with a curved slot 17 in which is' adjustably secured a pin 18 connected to one end of a link 19 the opposite end of .which is pivotally connected to a lever 2() depending` from a fixed fulcrumpin 21 which extends across and within the standard 2 in parallelism with the main shaft 7. The lower end of the lever 2O is pivotally connected to the rearward end of the main feed-bar 22 which extends within and longitudinally of the work-arm and, at its forward end, carries a screw-pin 23, Fig. 8, which passes through the slotted shank 24 of the main feed-dog 9 and serves to secure the-latter to said bar while permitting" adjustment of the feed-dog` lengthwise of said bar. The height of the mainfeed-dog` is determined by the position of adjustment 'of the slotted wedge 25 which is placed between the feed-barQQl and the shank 24.

The auxiliary feed-rocker 16 is formed with a. curved slot 26 in which is fitted a pin 27 carried by the rear end of a link 28 the front end of which is pivotally connected to a lever 29 depending from the fulcrum-pin 21. The lower end of the lever 29 is pivotally connected to one end of alink-section 30, the opposite end of which carries a fixed pin 31 and a screw 32. both. extending 'through the slots 33 in the rear end of the link-section 34, the front end of which is pivota'lly connected at 35 to a. bracket 3G screwed to the side of the auxiliary feed-'bar Si' which is deeply recessed or grooved at its under side, Fig. 2, to Ht about vand slide upon the forward end-portion of the main feed-bar 22, The feed-bar 37 carries the auxiliary feed-deg` S. The fulling feed may be readily adgusted while the machine is in operation by means of the feed.-

controllinej lever-arm which is mounted on the rock-shaft 39 fulcrumed in the standard 2. The lever-arm 38 is connected by the link 40 to the link 28.

l The main and auxiliary feed-bars are Supported within the work-arm on a fulcrumblock 41 which is tted within the slot42 in the main feed-bar and is carried by the fulcrum-pin 43 supported, in turn, at the forward end of the feed-lifting lever 44 which is pivoted within the work-arm on the trunnion-screws 45, 45. The feed lifting' lever 44 is rocked by means of the eccentric 46, carried by the main-shaft and embraced by the upper strapped end of a'pitman-l?, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a rearward extension 48 of said feed lifting' lever. Y

The looper-shaft maybe actuated by any usual or suitable mechanisn'nf For example, the looper-shaft G may be fitted at its rearward end with a rank-arm 4i) having a bellcrank-pin 50, which is embraced by the. lower strapped end of a link 51 the upper strapped end of which embraces al ball-eccentric 52 on the main-shaft 7 which imparts loop-seizing` and -shedding movements to the looper. The hub of the cranklarm 49 is formed with a rearward extension 'carrying a ball-ended pin 53 disposed con`l oentrically with the axis of the iooper-shaft and embraced by the socketed end of link 54 whose opposite end is connected'to the depending arm 55 of a rock-lever fulcrumed to oscillate upon and independently of the cross-shaft 1 4 journaled in the standard 2. The upwardly extending` arm 56 of said rock-lever is slotted at 5? to receive an adjustable pin 5S which, through the pitman 59, connects said lever with the eccentric 60 carried by the main shaft; said eccentric sewing to impart sidewise or needle-avoiding-7 vmovements to the looper. lThe feeddoggs rise. and fall through slots 61 yin the throat-plate 62 which is mounted at the free end of the work-supporting; arm 3 and is formed 'with the usual needle-apertures 63 and chainingoif fingers 64. vThe usual presser-foot 65 operates to hold the work on K ling device isin the forni of a comb 6G haV- L ing a series of projections or teeth 67 which are lspaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of the needles 4 and are directed toward the needles in opposition to the direction of feed. rlhe teeth G7 of the comb are adapted to beprojocted forwardly vbetween. the needles, as shown in Fie'. 14. at the period of the cycle when the needles are rising to throw out their loops. At: this time, the teeth 6T guide the pending needle-loops andr hold them in parallel planes broadside of the path of the advancing looper, thus preventing the loops from twisting around sidewise and escaping seizure by the looper. The teeth 67, beingl positioned at this time above and close tothe upper edge of the looper. also act to prevent the looper from dragginga seized needle-loop into an ei;- panded or newly formed needle-loop about to be seized. i

The comb 66, if retained in its advanced position, will interfere vwith the drawing up dog 9, as shown in Fig.,l2. When fixed to .the feed-dog, it is found `that the comb will receive the desired motions at the times `above indicated'withoutthe need of` further actuating mechanism.

It is sometimes found desirable to employ a guard 69 for covering, the teeth of thecomb 66 when the latter is in retracted position. This guard may be made upI in=the rform of a light bar secured atone end to the throat-plate bymeans of a screw/70 and at its opposite end formed with a T-head 71 extending transversely of and slightly below the chaining `off fingers (i4. rThis guardwi-ll f prevent the needle-loops yfrom catching,v on

the teethofthe comb and will also serve as a stripper to free the teeth from anythreads which may be caught thereby.

The timing is' as follows:

is the needles rise to throw out their loops, the feed-dogs occupytheir forward positions, Fig. l2, andv are rising into engagement with the work. The teeth or projections 67 are thus positioned between the needles and just clear the top edge of the looper 5 as the latter advances, as shown in Figs. l0, ll, 12 and 14. As soon as the looper has seized the needle-loops and the needles leave the fabric, the feed-dogs begin their feeding stroke, thus withdrawing the teeth of the comb from their positions between the needles. After the feed-dogs have executed their feeding stroke, the comb will have been withdrawn to a position beneath the head 7l of the guard 69, as shown in Fig. 13. The needles then descend and pass their respective previously formed loops on the looper, which loops shall preferably be closely controlled, as disclosed in my said copending application, in order that said loops will assume evenly spaced positions on the looper at this time. When `the needleloops are shed by the looper they are successi vely drawn up to the work by the take-up mechanism.

I prefer todepend entirely upon the re-` .primarily to `prevent twisting ofv the expanding needle-loops prior to theirl seizure by the looper and, secondly, `to `prevent the looper from draggi'nga seized needle-loop;

into` an ladjacent needle-loop yabout to be seized.A ,y y y The invention, in certain of its aspects is not peculiar to multiple-needle machines but is useful in single-needle machines, as willr beobvious to those skilled in thel art from the foregoingdisclosure. It is well known that the direction in which a newly formed needle-loop tends to twist depends upon1-the twist of thethread used, i. e., whether off righ-tor. left hand twist.4 It will therefore bhe evident that .the loop-controlling projection-canf be placed on` either side of the needle, depending `upon. the twist-of the `thread used.

Having `thusrset vforth the-nature ofthe invention,-whatI claim` herein visl. In; asewing'machine, lin combination,` a

f plurality 'ofspaced needles-,i a single looper cooperatingr therewithy to formiy stitches.,- an.

needle-loop guide havingone` or more projettions adapted to extend between4 the needles,

and actuating mean-s fork said Aguide timed i to move saidy projections between said needles to guide the newly formed needle-loops during; thefirst part` of 'thea` rip-stroke'k of the needles and to -withdraw said` projections from 4ibetweenl the needle v'paths `prior to the entry of the* needlep'oints into the looperdrawn up to the work as they are shed by the looper.

, 2. In a sewing machine, in combination, a reciprocating needle, a looper operating transversely of the line of feed and cooperating with the needle to form stitches, a fourmotion feed, and a reciprocating needle-loop guide deriving movement from said feed and located above the lowest position of the needle-eye.

3.' In a sewing machine, in combination, av

plurality of reciprocating needles, a looper cooperating therewith to form stitches, a four-motion feed, and a needle-loop guide mounted in rear of said needles and above the lowest position of the needle-eyes and needle-eye to guide the expanding needleloop when the` feed-dog isat/the beginning end of its feeding stroke. f j

5. Inl al sewingmachine, in combination, a plurality of` needles set in a plane crossing the line of feed, a single looper cooperating therewith to form stitches, a throat-plate, a needle-loop guiding comb mounted below the throat-plate, and actuating means for projecting one or more of the teeth of said-comb between the needles to guide the expanding needle-loops prior to their seizure by the looper.

6. In' a sewing machine, in combination, a plurality of needles set in a plane crossing the line of feed, a single looper cooperating therewith to form stitches, a throat-plate, a needle-loop guiding comb mounted below the throat-plate, and actuating means for projecting one or more of the teeth of said comb between the vneedles'to guide l,the eX- panding needle-loops prior to their. seizure by the looper, said actuatingmeans operating further to withdraw said teeth from the plane of the needles prior to their descent into the looper-loop. i i

7. In av sewing machine, in combination, a reciprocating needle operating to throw out a loop in a plane parallel to theline of feed, a looper, `a four-motion feed-dog having feeding teeth in rear of said needle, and a needle-loop guide mounted onsaid feed-dog below the level of the feeding teeth and above the lowest level of the needle-eye and projecting forwardly toward apertures said needle, said guide operating to hold the needle-loop in a plane transverse to the path of the advancing looper.

8. In a sewing machine, in combination,

a reciprocating needle, a looper, a recipro- Vwithdrawn from effectivev position.

' 9. In v a sewing machine, in combination, a reciprocating needle, a looper, a reciprocating needle-loop guide including a projection operating to prevent the newly formed needle-loop from twisting out of the path of the advancing looper, and a stationary guard for covering said projection when the latter is withdrawn.

' l0. In a sewing machine, in combination, a throat-plate having a plurality of needleand intervening chaining foff fingers, a plurality of reciprocating needles, a looper cooperating therewith to form stitches, a reciprocating needle-loop guide comprising a plurality of projections adapted to `extend between the needles, and a guard mounted on said throat-plate and eX- tending across and below the chaining off fingers, said guard operating. to cover said Vprojections when the latter are withdrawn from between the needles.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 

